Australia: ABB Grain Ltd announced on January 13 that a joint decision between ABB, the University of Adelaide and the Australian Field Crops Association (AFCA) means seed for Keel feed barley can now be traded ‘across the fence’. Keel, originally bred through the University of Adelaide’s Barley Improvement Program, has been licensed to ABB since 1999 with a Seed Royalty previously collected on seed sales.

With the new year now upon us growers will soon be looking to the upcoming season and considering what to plant. The decision to allow ‘across the fence’ trading of seed for Keel, a popular and widely grown variety of barley, is thus a timely one for growers.

Although this ‘across the fence’ trading is now possible, growers should carefully consider where their seed comes from to ensure they receive a quality product. The grain kernel quality produced in 2004/05 has been variable and so any seed that growers purchase should be thoroughly sampled and tested before purchase. Quality certified Keel seed remains available through AFCA. To obtain this seed growers should call AFCA executive officer, David Moore on 8522 3973.

Two other varieties of barley proving popular with growers are the new feed varieties Capstan and Maritime, also bred through the University of Adelaide’s Barley Improvement Program, commercialised by ABB with certified seed produced through AFCA.

Capstan, a high yielding short, stiff strawed feed variety with excellent head retention, is targeted for high yielding, high input environments nominally over 400mm annual rainfall.

Capstan seed was available commercially for the first time in 2004/05 and is again available to growers for 2005/06 by contacting ABB’s seed manager Peter Breguet on 1800 018 205, your local AFCA representative or a seed retailer.

Maritime is available commercially for planting for the first time this coming season. Plenty of interest has been shown in this variety, an alternative to the Barque and Keel varieties, with no more orders being taken for 2005/06. Orders are however being taken now for the 2006/07 season. An End Point Royalty (EPR) applies to both the Maritime and Capstan varieties. Also currently subject to EPR’s are the malting barley varieties Sloop SA and Sloop Vic.

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